Search - Frankie Yankovic :: "Frankie Yankovic - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2"

A useful re-release

Bill Smythe | Chicago | 05/12/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Some re-releases are primary (on the original labels) while others are secondary (on cut-rate labels). The sound quality on secondary re-releases, such as this one, is generally inferior to the originals. But this one, at least, is considerably superior to other secondaries which have included some of the same performances. I especially welcome four of the tracks: Blue Skirt Waltz, Dance Dance Dance, Whirl-Away Waltz, and Suzy Waltz. Frankie Yankovic has recorded Blue Skirt Waltz at least six times, and this performance is the best of the six. I wish I could locate the primary source, but this rehash will do nicely, and is greatly preferable to those on several other CDs. The re-masterings of Whirl-Away and Suzy waltzes are far better here than on the tinny-sounding An Evening At Yankovic's, apparently another secondary CD. I was debating whether to give this CD three stars or four, until track 12 came along. Accordion Man Waltz (and a couple of other tracks) are afflicted with wow-and-flutter (pitch variations) at the suspicious rate of 33-1/3 wows per minute. Those who record CDs from vinyl should make sure their LPs are centered properly on their turntables. For volume 3, I'd like to see more tracks (especially the waltzes and the Strabane Polka) from the same original source as Whirl-Away and Suzy. I'd also like to see some classic tracks, such as Thing of Beauty and Tie a String Around Your Finger, from the Polkas in Hi-Fi album, the original source of the Happy Wanderer track (that LP will require careful centering, however). Overall, this CD is a mixed bag. Although it sounds way better than previous CDs on this label, I'd prefer re-releases from the original recording companies."